275: Brett Taylor of Brooklyn’s Wild East Runs a Brewery, Not a Museum

Brooklyn’s Wild East is a brewer’s brewery. It’s the kind of place that other local brewers go for a beer when they’re not working. The lagers are exceptional, characterful more than crispy, and their best-selling IPA is a West coast-style iteration—a stark contrast to the hazy and juicy IPAs that make up the bulk of the offerings from neighbors Other Half or Finback. Cofounder and head brewer Brett Taylor has some strong opinions about brewing lagers—decoction isn’t optional, water is very important, and the imperfection of more “rustic” malt offers a tension that makes for more interesting beers. In this episode, Taylor discusses those approaches to lager, as well as their techniques behind West coast IPA and mixed fermentation farmhouse beers, and along the way, he covers: leaning into Czech-style lagers due to the similarity in water between New York and Pilsen designing a brewhouse with decoction methodology in mind treating lagers gently in every step of the process to preserve the delicate flavors using the same yeast in different ways across the lager program brewing West coast and New England IPAs with Conan yeast modernizing West coast IPA recipes the challenges of scaling up farmhouse brewing cultures optimizing for light Brett character and very gentle acidity in foeder saisons achieving juicy yet dry notes in everything from IPA to mixed culture beer And more. This episode is brought to you by: G&D Chillers ( https://gdchillers.com ) : For nearly 30 years, G&D Chillers has set the mark for quality equipment you can rely on. Contact the total glycol system design experts today at gdchillers.com Probrew ( https://www.probrew.com ) N/A? No Problem! The Alchemator from ProBrew uses proprietary membrane technology to strip the alcohol from the beer without sacrificing all the elements – like flavor and color - that make the beer great! Are you ready to Brew Like A Pro? Check out www.probrew.com to learn more about The Alchemator from ProBrew, or shoot them an email to ContactUs@probrew.com today! Old Orchard ( https://www.oldorchard.com/brewer ) : Historic heatwaves devastated U.S. berry crops, causing supply to dwindle and prices to skyrocket. That’s why brewers are switching over to Old Orchard’s craft concentrate blends, which mimic straight concentrates but at a better price point—and with more reliable supply. Reclaim your margins and order your craft concentrates at oldorchard.com/brewer American Canning ( https://americancanning.com ) : American Canning provides packaging supplies at competitive prices in order quantities catered to craft. For a smooth packaging experience, also consider their ultra-compact, single operator canning machines. Learn more about their ecosystem of solutions at americancanning.com . ABS Commercial ( https://abs-commercial.com ) : ABS Commercial is a full-service brewery outfitter, proud to offer brewhouses, tanks, and small parts to brewers across the country. Contact one of their brewery consultants today at sales@abs-commercial.com to discuss your brewery project. Twin Monkeys ( https://twinmonkeys.net ) : For a special offer from Twin Monkeys Beverage Systems, simply mention the CBB Podcast when you contact Twin Monkeys Beverage Systems to get a special discount on a brand new canning line through March of 2023. Support Craft Beer & Brewing Magazine Podcast